| Using cinnamon for health benefits
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2005-08-09 Richard Harkness - KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE
How much and what type of omega-3 fatty acid is correct
QUESTION: I own
a health food store in Dayton, Ohio, and am writing in regard to your
recent column on cinnamon. I recently read that, according to the
official botanical nomenclature, the name Cinnamomum cassia (cassia
cinnamon) has been changed to Cinnamomum aromaticum. This helped me
understand why none of my products listed the cassia name, but
several listed the aromaticum name.
ANSWER: Cassia
cinnamon is the type found to lower blood levels of cholesterol and
sugar.
Here we're talking about synonyms ...
two names for the same thing. Thanks for letting my readers know that
manufacturers might be using the aromaticum name rather than the
cassia name on product labels.
QUESTION: Is
cassia cinnamon available in stores? My brother is a diabetic with
high cholesterol.
ANSWER: First,
see the above information, which will help you avoid name confusion.
High cholesterol
and diabetes (or pre-diabetes) often are present together.
Since the common
cinnamon spice found in grocery stores is a blend that contains the
cassia type as well as other types, you probably want to use at least
one-half a teaspoonful per dose. These products apparently don't list
their ingredients.
You can also
find cassia cinnamon capsules sold as a dietary supplement at health
food stores and on the Web ... the typical dose would be 1,000 mg or
more.
If your brother
decides to try cinnamon, the dose of his diabetes medications may
need to be cut back to prevent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and
this should be done only under the watchful eye of his physician.
QUESTION: I
visited my doctor today and found out my cholesterol was really bad
and my triglycerides were through the roof. Rather than take a drug,
I think I would like to give cinnamon a try. What do you think?
ANSWER: Cinnamon
appears to push down both triglycerides and cholesterol, so it might
be worth trying.
When
triglycerides are extremely high, you're at risk for pancreatitis
(inflammation of the pancreas). Generally, the first concern in this
case is to lower the triglycerides, and then go after the
cholesterol.
You're likely to
need more than cinnamon, so be sure your doctor works with you on
this.
QUESTION: I am a
type 1 diabetic and am on insulin and metformin. Would cinnamon help
me?
ANSWER: Maybe,
but you have to be very careful.
You have type 1
diabetes, so your pancreas cannot produce insulin (In type 2
diabetes, the pancreas is still capable of producing insulin).
As you know, if
you inject yourself with too much insulin, your blood sugar will fall
too low.
Metformin is an
oral drug that boosts insulin's sugar-lowering effect.
Cinnamon also
appears to boost insulin's effect.
You might be
hoping that cinnamon could take the place of the metformin.
Because of the
real danger that your sugar levels could drop dangerously low, you
should work cinnamon into the mix only under the careful supervision
of your physician.
Richard Harkness
is a consultant pharmacist and specialist in natural therapies.
E-mail: rharkn@aol.com.
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